ZoomConcept Reviews
Minor Problem why so big? Minor Problem on Old 1 Where's portfolio? is it hidden? Do you want people to use you based on words? -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:Good point, I do have a portfolio section, but it is not linked from the main navigation. I'll add it to the main navigation, but I'll have to update my portfolio first.
2 Good but is there only you? Do you have other people working with you? even if it's a dog. -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Yes, it is only me. Even though I do have a small network of freelancers that I occasionally work with.
3 I would just keep this for reference not actually on each page -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Another good point, I actually put this there because it was an empty space :)
Serious Problem By far the most old school and uninteresting nav bar I have seen in a long time -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
I have mocked-up a blue version, any better? (see the attached image called capture 6)
Serious Problem on Old 1 Is this the only social place that you are listed on? Positive Feature Icon is nice, the typography is a bit average - why italics? -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Glad you like the icon! The text seems a bit bland if it is not in italic.
-
Aaran Casey commented:maybe a different font... maybe aller?
-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
I have changed the colors of the icon, it is now blue only. Because I'm actually quite happy about the header now, I'll stick with what I have got.
Summary:
Johan
Don't take offence this to me is just a bit meh (as in ho hum) I wouldn't really call it a redesign. I don't think it's the colors you need to worry about, I think it's more the lack of interested.
Typography - It's average, you develop in Wordpress, yest your site's typography says beginner. I would suggest really making this stand out a bit more, mix it up a bit use a sans serif for heading and a serif for body - IMHO.
Overall Design - This is built Wordpress, and powered by wordpress, and there's a wordpress navigation label, but to behonest it really does look like one of the dullest themes, that you could of chosen. Under services - you list web Design, if I came to this site looking for a web designer I would probably close the tab and move on.
See notes...
I think you really need to figure out what it is that you want to achieve, and how the business needs to be percieved, from there do a plan, site architecture, wire-frame, once this is all complete, hire a designer...
Good Luck!
UPDATE
Johan, I have done a real quick mock up of how I think you could tweak your design, to give a little more oomph! Hope you don't mind...
-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Thanks for your honest opinion. Let's not debate what is and what is not design but I do get your point that the site needs some more excitement.
-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Thanks for the mock-up, I'll use your idea of the three-column footer, it has a nice bit of whitespace between the columns.
Attached Files:
-
Minor Problem Type
You're line height is much too large and the text is floating so much on it's own I find it hard to read-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
I'll have a look at this, I found a good article disussing font sizes and line heights which should help: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/03/14/technical-web-typography-guidelines-and-techniques/
Serious Problem Lack of Focal point or 'Action button'
There doesn't seem to be one single point on this page that is the most important thing. Each page on your site should have a main objective (Convert visitors to clients, get them to look at the portfolio etc..) but this page doesn't have that. My eye is drawn to 'Wordpres' and then it's lost in floating text with nothing to really hold onto-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Good point. Jan made a similar point and I shall some kind of button or link that stands out to either a click to call or request a quote.
Positive Feature Slider
When you do use a content slider in the design, it is helpful to draw the eye! Unfortunately, when it is just another design which is not all that great itself, it actually confuses me more and I'm not sure If the site is called 'ecoplay' or what they have to do with VanderWijk Consultancy.-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Would it help if the opening slide would say something like 'these are some websites from my portfollio'?
-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
I have added an orange ribbon with the text 'Portfolio' on top of the slider. The purpose of the images should now be clear.
New Idea Action Statement
You should create an action statement, or mission statement for your homepage, or perhaps all pages. And this should be associated with the related page's objective. From the design perspective, you can use a variation in font, and font-size to make this statement stand out.Summary:
Hi Johan, I'd have to agree with Aaron on his review. This site looks like it was made in 2001. If you're going to sell services online (especially Wordpress) you need to step it up a bit. I'd also recommend hiring a designer, or purchasing a Wordpress Theme from somewhere like Themeforest.net.
-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
I have given the site quite an overhaul with a blue background, a new top navigation bar and a modified logo. I think it now has an up-to-date look and feel, would you agree?
-
Serious Problem The contrast between the text and the background is too small. People will have a hard time reading your menu. Try using some lighter colors or change the background. -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
I have made the navigation links a bit lighter and the text shadow is now a bit darker to provide more contrast.
New Idea Don't forget to include a big call to action somewhere on the page that leads to your contact form. Or you could do even better and include a "click to call"-functionality, I see you are dutch, take a look at click2call.nl for more info about the possibilities (I have no affiliation with them) -
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Great idea, I will definitely add a big call-to-action button on the page. I'll check out click2call.
Summary:
I personally prefer the blue version. Especially the header section, it comes more to live than in the dark version and your tagline is much more legible.
-
Johan Van Der Wijk commented:
Because on the homepage I am using big colorful images of the sites I have built the blue background is a bit too much. I have therefore tried a light grey background gradient to lighten up the site (See the attached image named Capture 5)
-
This is not the homepage, but an interior page focussed on WordPress only. I thought it would be nice to have the WordPress logo stand out a bit.